A North Cumbrian joinery business with a twist will expand, thanks to its unique work across the world.

Creative Joinery and Design, based at Brampton’s Townfoot Industrial Estate, was set up three years ago by Peter and Chris Johnson.

Its biggest client is an international playground firm, which means their work can be found in places including Singapore, Hong Kong, and London.

Initially, they worked from a double garage, but increasing orders meant they needed to move into bigger premises.

Peter said: “At the moment, we are working from two units on the industrial estate and a cowshed. We’ve just completed on a new unit on the estate, which is six times bigger and hopefully, we’ll be able to move in next month.”

The company, which works with wood and plastics, needs the room.

Recent projects include a wooden hot air balloon and a five metre tree, including a three metre steel climbing tube for a play area in London.

Peter said: “The client wanted it clad in realistic bark, so we rang a special effects company to ask their advice and took casts from a tree that had fallen in Storm Desmond with epoxy resin and then painted it.

“You could say we’re not your typical joinery firm. We don’t do skirting boards. Unusual is our niche.

“The designers give us a 3D drawing of the play area and we have to work out how we can deliver it.

“One interesting element of a recent play area that is nearing completion is a birch plywood sphere. It’s very easy to draw on a computer for a play designer but hugely complex to figure out a production method.

“A lot of what we make is absolutely unique and there is no YouTube video to refer to!

“This thought process can be very varied – in the case of the sphere it began with a late night cutting cardboard templates of chocolate orange segments followed by a scale model to prove the theory of the production method worked.

“This week we have also learned to weave willow into a child sized birds nest.”

Chris, 30, has flown out to Hong Kong this week to put together the hot air balloon play area. He will be there for three weeks.

Peter said: “Not only do we have to work out how to do it, we also have to factor in that it needs to fit in a shipping container and in the case of the Hong Kong project, go up seven floors before it can be put together.”

The firm also uses other local companies to help it complete projects. Peter added: “An old schoolfriend has just started as a metalworker, so he’s been working with us too.”